| Abstract: | The present paper deals with improvement in disperse dyeability as well as imparting of cationic dyeablility to difficultly
dyeable polypropylene by a melt blending technique. Isotactic polypropylene (PP) was blended with fibre grade polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT), cationic dyeable polyethylene terephthalate (CDPET) and polystyrene (PS), individually. The resulting
binary blends were spun and drawn into fibres at draw ratio 2, 2.5, and 3. The compatibility of blends, structural changes
of fibres in terms of X-ray crystallinity, relative crystallinity, sonic modulus, birefringence and thermal stability were
examined. The blended fibres were found to be disperse dyeable by the conventional method of high temperature and high pressure
dyeing. And this dyeability increased with increase in the level of substitution. PP/CDPET blend also exhibited dyeablility
with cationic dyes in addition to that with disperse dyes. The optimum level of blending was predicted keeping in view of
tenacity and thermal stability of melt blend fibres. The wash fastness properties of the dyed fibres were found to be of high
rate. |
